Originally published in the Spring 2023 issue of Spoke+Blossom. This spring, Mancos Trails Group (MTG) will open 11.4 miles of the smooth and flowy Aqueduct Trail System on BLM land. “The trails have been the talk of town,” says Don Hoffheins, chair of MTG. Photo courtesy of Mancos Trails Group
Everyone — from the elderly population to youth development biking organizations — have been in support. High Desert DEVO, one of the youth organizations, jumped from 35 members to 152 within this past year. MTG’s largest grant came from Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, which directs its efforts towards community livability. They were also awarded Mancos Valley Resources’ Sponsored Project of the Year because of their service to the town. Volunteers accumulated 3,750-plus total hours in 2022, which equates to over $112,300 of contributed labor. Hoffheins gives a special shout out to Mancos Brewery’s support. The Aqueduct Trails are multi-use, nonmotorized (except for class 1 e-bikes) beginner and intermediate trails on Mancos shale through pinyon, juniper and sage, with big views of Mesa Verde, the Sleeping Ute and the La Plata mountains. “It’s a huge amount of work, but it’s almost magical how you can take rough terrain and provide a full experience of rideability, scenery and sustainability for users,” explains Hoffheins. It’s been proposed to the BLM to add a trail segment so that someone could ride over 13 miles, overlapping the same piece of ground for only 0.2 miles. The proposed trail connects the intersection where Riprap meets Ridges to the intersection where Evenflow meets Mountain View. Additional changes to come in the spring are a five- to six-car parking lot at the south end trailhead. MTG also received a grant from LOR foundation for over $19,000 to construct a trailhead shade structure. The trails are closed from Dec. 1 to April 30 for wildlife. Originally published in the Spring 2023 issue of Spoke+Blossom.
0 Comments
Save the date! Join us for the MTG Spring Social at the Mancos Brewery on May 6th from 4-8pm4/14/2023 Share stories of ski turns on Hesperus, x-country skiing at Chicken Creek, fat biking at Boggy Draw and other winter adventures! Meet fellow trail users! Hear what MTG has in store for the summer! Sign up to help us out! It's also a great time to gather with familiar and new friends to dream of summer adventures, like the eventual wildflower bloom! Look for more details on social media as the temperature gets warmer and the date gets closer. Special Beer Release! Live Music We did it! The Aqueduct trails are almost complete. Thank you to our volunteers who helped make this happen.
Remember, there's only a little more than a week left to enjoy these new trails before the winter wildlife closure on Dec. 1. Have fun! Check out the Journal article here Join us, Saturday, September 10th, for another fun workday as we put the finishing touches on the Lost Chicken trail. Stick around after for a cookout and social.
Location: Southwest intersection of Lost Chicken Trail and the Millwood Road, aka Forest Service Road 559, aka County Road 39.9 Time: 9:00-4:30 Schedule: 9:00 - sign in, safety & tool use talk, crew assignments 9:00-2:30 - construct drainage features on the Lost Chicken trail 2:30-4:30 - cookout and social! Please wear long pants and closed toe shoes. Bring work gloves, eye protection, sun protection, rain gear, water, food and snacks for 5 hours. We will be constructing drainage structures along 2 miles of Lost Chicken mostly north of the road crossing. Primarily rolling grade dips and grade reversals. Tools and training are provided. Please bring a long handle, round point dirt shovel if you have one. Directions: From Mancos go north on Hwy 184 to County Road 40. Right on Rd. 40, go north to Rd P, Go left (west) on Rd. P to County Road 39.9 (Red Sign), go right on 39.9 about 4 miles. Look for MTG banners at the trail crossing. Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/T8B9TG6AvsaP5vPHA?g_st=ic Join MTG for a fun day in the high La Platas!
On Saturday, August 13th we will install the final sign for the Mancos Spur Trail at the intersection with the Colorado Trail at Taylor Lake. We will then hold a dedication of the trail and break into groups to hike or bike parts of the Spur. If anyone wants to through-hike or bike a section (to Sharkstooth Pass, Transfer Campground or even all the way to Mancos State Park), please arrange for carpools/shuttles yourself. This work day will be small on the work and big on the fun. We’ll have to carry in some tools and the new sign, and at the end we’ll carry out the old sign. As always, many hands make for light labor and in this case, very light labor! We hope you can join us for this fun day. Work Day Itinerary and Information When: It’s best to leave Mancos by 7:30 AM to arrive at Kennebec Pass by about 9:00 AM. Hike or bike 1 mile on the Colorado Trail to the junction with the Mancos Spur Trail by 10:00 AM. After the sign has been installed, the trail dedication will take place at 11:00 AM. Where: Meet at the Junction of the Colorado Trail and the Mancos Spur, one mile hike from the Kennebec Pass CT trailhead.
What: Trail sign installation. Trail dedication. Social hike or bike ride an additional 2 miles (or more if you like) on the Spur to the 12,000’ pass above Bear Creek Basin for amazing views! Thru hikers/bikers can continue to Sharkstooth TH and beyond. If you are interested in thru-hiking or biking the Spur, or a part of it, you will need to arrange your own shuttle. Join us to work on completing the last of the Lost Chicken!
Location: Hallar Reservoir on the Millwood Road, aka Forest Service Road 559, aka County Road 39.9. Time: 8:30-4:00 Schedule: - 8:30 for sign in, safety, tool use and crew assignment, - 9:00-2:00 construct the last segment of the Lost Chicken trail. - 2:00-4:00 Cookout and social. Wear long pants and closed toe shoes. Bring work gloves, eye protection, sun protection, rain gear, water, food and snacks for 5 hours. Directions: From Mancos go north on Hwy 184 to County Road 40. Right on Rd. 40, go north to Rd P, Go left (west) on Rd. P to County Road 39.9 (Red Sign), go right on 39.9 about 5 miles. Look for MTG banners Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/aLhznKfTB5zEcpM4A Let's keep up the momentum! Three more miles of trail have been created and are ready for buffing. Join us, Saturday, June 11 to help finish the new "Ridges Trail" section of the Aqueduct System.
For this trail work day, be prepared to hike. Crews will be hiking 2 to 4 miles. We'll be grilling burgers at the trailhead when we finish our work, around 1 pm. When: 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM Where: Meet at the Aqueduct Main North Trailhead Parking - see map below or click here: ** https://maps.app.goo.gl/9NgSXESANNji3DtB6 **Be sure to park inside the parking area and not along the county road What to bring: Water, snacks, gloves, hat, sturdy footwear, eye protection/sunglasses, sunscreen, and bug repellent for the gnats! Friends of MTG, We invite you to join us this Saturday evening at the Mancos Brewery. Come out and enjoy live music (Bards In-Between), a delicious special brew (Aqueduct Ale), and bid on a number of awesome silent auction items—all in support of your favorite trail building non-profit! Festivities will run from 4 to 8 PM. There will be a $10 cover at the door, which is a direct donation to MTG! The brewery will also be donating a generous portion of the night's proceeds from each pint or can of the specially brewed Aqueduct Ale sold! SO DRINK UP!
Let's see if we can raise $5,000 on Saturday, giving us the funds to complete the next next trail segment... the RipRap!!! See you there! Bards In-Between Come out and enjoy the live music by Bards In-Between! Check out their music @ https://www.bardsin-between.com What a turn out! More than 50 people came out to the ribbon cutting event on May 1st to celebrate the seasons grand opening of the Aqueduct Trail System!
After the ribbon cutting, many of us hit the trails, zooming down the Evenflow Trail and looping around the Moonscape! Thank you to all those who came out to celebrate. We are so proud of our accomplishments! We have now completed a total of 4 miles of trail! With your continued support we look forward to constructing 8 more miles, finishing the system. To learn more about the Aqueduct Trail System and how you can help MTG complete this awesome project, visit our website... or better yet... join us, May 21st at the Mancos Brewery and hear all about it! ***LOST AND FOUND*** A set of keys were found along Road 39 on the day of the ribbon cutting event. If you think they may belong to you, please email MancosTrailsGroup@gmail.com. Join us, Saturday May 21, at the Mancos Brewery!
The Mancos Brewery is hosting a special fundraiser for Mancos Trails Group. The event will feature live music (Bards in Between), a silent auction, and a special brew – Aqueduct Ale – made specially to celebrate the expansion of Mancos’ own Aqueduct Trail System. Festivities will run from 4 to 8 PM. Admission is $10, which the brewery is donating directly to Mancos Trails Group. A generous portion of the proceeds from each pint or can of Aqueduct Ale will be donated to Mancos Trails Group as well. SO DRINK UP!
Our silent auction will feature great items including Osprey packs, local art, gift certificates and more! We look forward to seeing you there! |
Archives
April 2024
Categories |